Citizens of Uruguay will soon need an ETIAS visa waiver to travel to Europe. The European Travel Information and Authorisation System will be introduced by the end of 2022.
ETIAS is not a visa but it will become a mandatory entry requirement for Uruguayan passport holders visiting Schengen countries.
This page contains all the information Uruguayans need to get prepared for ETIAS.
Will Uruguayan citizens need a visa for Europe?
No, citizens of Uruguay will not need a visa to visit Europe for up to 90 days for tourism, business, or transit purposes.
However, from 2022, Uruguayans will need to register with ETIAS to enter Europe. ETIAS is not a visa, it is a travel authorisation similar to the US ESTA of Canadian eTA.
With ETIAS, Uruguayans will continue to enjoy short trips to top European destinations including Portugal, Spain, and Italy, visa-free.
Uruguayan passport holders who wish to stay in Europe for longer than 90 days per 180-day period, or for other travel purposes, need an entry visa.
What documents do Uruguayans need to obtain ETIAS?
Citizens of Uruguay need just a few basic items to apply for ETIAS.
- Valid Uruguayan passport
- Debit or credit card
- Current email address
With these 3 items, Uruguayans can fill out the online ETIAS application form.
How to apply for ETIAS from Uruguay
Citizens of Uruguay will be able to apply for an ETIAS visa waiver in just a few minutes. The application process is 100% online with no need to visit an embassy at any point.
Uruguayan nationals must provide the following details:
- Name, date and place of birth, and other basic personal details
- Passport number, issue date and expiry date
- Contact information
Uruguayans also need to provide some health and criminal record information.
Travellers must check the form carefully before submitting it. All the details provided should be accurate and any mistakes could lead to processing delays.
On completion of the form, Uruguayans pay the visa waiver processing fee using a debit or credit card. The application can then be submitted for review.
How long does it take to get ETIAS from Uruguay?
Most Uruguayan nationals will receive the approved visa waiver within 72 hours of submitting a request.
ETIAS forms are automatically cross-checked against Schengen zone security systems. Provided nothing is flagged up the authorisation will be approved at this stage.
On rare occasions, there may be a hit in one of the systems. ETIAS authorities will manually review the information in these cases, they must come to a decision within 2 weeks.
As ETIAS is valid for 3 years, Uruguayans are advised to apply for ETIAS as soon as they know their travel plans.
Can an ETIAS application from Uruguay be rejected?
It is expected that the vast majority of ETIAS applications submitted by Uruguayan passport holders will be quickly approved.
Nevertheless, on rare occasions, the authorisation request may be rejected. Individuals who do not meet all the requirements for ETIAS or are considered to pose a threat to the public in Europe will not be granted a visa waiver.
Travellers have the right to appeal if they are denied ETIAS.
Travel to Europe from Uruguay with ETIAS
The approved ETIAS visa waiver is linked to the Uruguayan passport electronically. It remains valid for 3 years or until the passport expires, whichever happens first.
Uruguayans can enter Europe multiple times while the ETIAS remains valid, for up to 90 days per 180-day period.
Another advantage of ETIAS is that it is valid for the entire Schengen Area. With one permit, Uruguayan tourists can visit all 26 Schengen countries.
The visa waiver is required to cross the external Schengen border but there are no internal checkpoints in the border-free travel region.
Why do Uruguayans need ETIAS from 2022?
The European Travel Information and Authorisation System will increase safety and security across the EU.
By pre-screening all third-country visitors, including those who do not need a visa, potential threats can be detected before they reach Europe.
ETIAS will make popular European holiday destinations such as Spain, Italy, and France, even safer.
ETIAS for Uruguayans is not available yet. The system will be launched at the end of 2022 and become mandatory soon after.